OTHER VOICES

Published: Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, February 8, 2013 at 6:21 p.m.

Music education is a precious commodity these days. Marion County and the state of Florida have seen drastic budget cuts to our educational system in the past few years, which have come at the cost of our students’ education.

During this school year (2012-13), there are 13 elementary schools in Marion County that share a music teacher with another school — meaning that the students of these schools are only receiving half of the music time that other students within the county receive. On average, a typical Marion County Public Schools elementary student who receives full-time art or music instruction receives somewhere between 18 and 24 hours of instruction in a school year. However, the students at shared schools are receiving somewhere between 9 and 12 hours of music instruction instead. And the most heart-breaking statistic to look at is the Florida School Music Association recommendations for a “quality music program” at the elementary level, which is 55 hours of music instruction within a school year. As you can see, our county does not even come close to this recommendation.

I know firsthand how music can change your life in ways never thought possible, and I want that for all children, regardless of socioeconomic conditions. Too many of our county’s children deserve much more than what they have or are given, and I have seen that just a few hours a day of music makes a difference in their lives and their future. Unfortunately, here, music education seems to be a “dying art,” but that may be simply because so many people do not understand music’s positive effects on all types of learning.

In a recent Florida study (2010-11) of 197,932 12th-grade seniors, data showed evidence of a strong relationship between individuals who participated in school arts education (quality and comprehensive K-12 music, art and performing arts education) and higher academic success. You can download the full report at the Center for Fine Arts Education (CFAE) Advocacy site at http://cfaefl.org/Advocacy.

For example, the study reported a 29 percent increase in students scoring a 3 or higher on FCAT Reading when the student had four music credits. It also showed a 3 or above score on the FCAT Math by 85.65 percent of students involved in music throughout high school. And the study reported that 86 percent of four-year high school music students scored a 3.5 or higher on FCAT Writing.

How can we overlook or argue with this kind of data? How can we say that only reading, writing and math teachers teach reading, writing and math, when there is scientific proof that music teachers not only teach these subjects but also produce positive test results in these subjects?

It is easy during tough economic times to be discouraged about a lot of things, including our educational system. It is easy to give up hope. But someone must step up for our students and their basic right to a quality education and success in their lives. Someone must say that enough is enough and we cannot continue to educate our children in the same ways anymore when it doesn’t work. Someone must take a stand to say that our children deserve better. Someone must shout from the rooftops that our children are worth all the time, effort and money we can give them. And if there are just a few on that rooftop, so be it.

But I do hope someday all of us will stand together to say that we are ready to change this world for the better. Music can and will do that for us, and I look forward to the day that we let it. In the meantime, please join me on the rooftop, and start shouting for our children’s education.

Sondra Collins is the music teacher at Romeo Elementary School and is president of the Marion County Music Association. She was the 2010-11 Rookie Teacher of the Year at Romeo Elementary. Email her at Sondra.Collins@marion.k12.fl.us.

<p>Music education is a precious commodity these days. Marion County and the state of Florida have seen drastic budget cuts to our educational system in the past few years, which have come at the cost of our students' education.</p><p>During this school year (2012-13), there are 13 elementary schools in Marion County that share a music teacher with another school — meaning that the students of these schools are only receiving half of the music time that other students within the county receive. On average, a typical Marion County Public Schools elementary student who receives full-time art or music instruction receives somewhere between 18 and 24 hours of instruction in a school year. However, the students at shared schools are receiving somewhere between 9 and 12 hours of music instruction instead. And the most heart-breaking statistic to look at is the Florida School Music Association recommendations for a “quality music program” at the elementary level, which is 55 hours of music instruction within a school year. As you can see, our county does not even come close to this recommendation.</p><p>I know firsthand how music can change your life in ways never thought possible, and I want that for all children, regardless of socioeconomic conditions. Too many of our county's children deserve much more than what they have or are given, and I have seen that just a few hours a day of music makes a difference in their lives and their future. Unfortunately, here, music education seems to be a “dying art,” but that may be simply because so many people do not understand music's positive effects on all types of learning.</p><p>In a recent Florida study (2010-11) of 197,932 12th-grade seniors, data showed evidence of a strong relationship between individuals who participated in school arts education (quality and comprehensive K-12 music, art and performing arts education) and higher academic success. You can download the full report at the Center for Fine Arts Education (CFAE) Advocacy site at http://cfaefl.org/Advocacy.</p><p>For example, the study reported a 29 percent increase in students scoring a 3 or higher on FCAT Reading when the student had four music credits. It also showed a 3 or above score on the FCAT Math by 85.65 percent of students involved in music throughout high school. And the study reported that 86 percent of four-year high school music students scored a 3.5 or higher on FCAT Writing.</p><p>How can we overlook or argue with this kind of data? How can we say that only reading, writing and math teachers teach reading, writing and math, when there is scientific proof that music teachers not only teach these subjects but also produce positive test results in these subjects?</p><p>It is easy during tough economic times to be discouraged about a lot of things, including our educational system. It is easy to give up hope. But someone must step up for our students and their basic right to a quality education and success in their lives. Someone must say that enough is enough and we cannot continue to educate our children in the same ways anymore when it doesn't work. Someone must take a stand to say that our children deserve better. Someone must shout from the rooftops that our children are worth all the time, effort and money we can give them. And if there are just a few on that rooftop, so be it.</p><p>But I do hope someday all of us will stand together to say that we are ready to change this world for the better. Music can and will do that for us, and I look forward to the day that we let it. In the meantime, please join me on the rooftop, and start shouting for our children's education.</p><p></p><p><i>Sondra Collins is the music teacher at Romeo Elementary School and is president of the Marion County Music Association. She was the 2010-11 Rookie Teacher of the Year at Romeo Elementary. Email her at Sondra.Collins@marion.k12.fl.us.</i></p>